Ok, I've searched the board.... No luck...

[ccm]

Ok, so with Balsaman's help and others here, I've got the FET3 up and working running my steppers.... got the bugs worked out.... but I need some assistance / recommendations with Turbocnc.
I've got Version 4, running on a dos desktop which is running 6.22, the qbasic test file runs the steppers just fine, but when I go into Turbocnc I can't seem to get the motors to jog at all. Nor, can I figure out how to change the pin config to verify that TCnc is taking on the correct pins over the lpt port.
Is there a place that I can obtain a Config for Tcnc that someone is already using, so I can see where I'm going wrong ? Or a suggestion on how to go about changing the pin config, I'm thinking this is what my problem is.

Thanks guys for all your guidance so far......

-Art

[ger21]

Under Configure> Configure Axis, you can set the parallel port, and step and direction pins for each axis. MAKE SURE you have the correct port set.

Also, you should download the latest Hotfix from the TurboCNC Yahoo group.

[ccm]

Ok, so I've got all that setup to the correct pinouts.... still it doesn't respond at all .... What should the parallel port be set to in the bios just out of curiousity ? I've got it set to Bi directional, should I be using ECP or EPP ?
The lpt is set to H378 in the bios, and in turbocnc....that's what's puzzling me. I'm at a lost at this point...

-art

[ger21]

When you start turbocnc, it lists the available ports on the startup screen. Does this match the bios? I'd try all the different port settings to see if it makes a difference. I have a feeling somethings not set right, double check everything.

[ccm]

Ok, so I double checked the port that tcnc is using when it starts up, and it's using 0378h which inside Turbocnc matches up with Lpt1, and the bios is setup for lpt1, it is enabled... and currently set to Bi directional.
I've looked through my doc's that came with the FET3 and only found one doc that states the pinout to use for Kellycam. Does anyone else on the board use the Fet3 with Turbocnc ? What did you go through to get it functional ?

-art

[ger21]

Are there enable pins on it by chance?

[ccm]

On the driver board itself .... or do you mean under the pinout that tcnc comes up with ? As for the board, there are no visible, or noted enable pins.
Plus, the strange thing is ... I can run the qbasic test script that came with the FET3, and it works just fine, I close it and go right into Turbo CNC... and I get no response. So if there is an enable pin hiding somewhere.... I've yet to see or find it.

[ger21]

In TCNC, go to Configure>Configure IO lines

Set X enable to pin 14
Y to pin 16
Z to pin 17

Make sure they are all enabled.
They are labeled as drive 1,2, and 3. Not X, Y and Z. They should correspond to the axis #'s

[ccm]

Ahh, yes I was in there looking at that, but didn't change anything due to the fact of I wasn't sure that 1,2,3 corresponded with x,y,z
That's got to be it then.... because I know that I haven't enabled those.
I'll give that a try this evening.... thanks, I'll let you know how I make out.

-Art

[ger21]

If you go to Configure Axis, you'll see the axis number next to the letter.

[ccm]

Ok, so I've configured the IO lines as X = 2,3 & 14 enable pin, Y = 4,5 & 16 enable pin, Z = 6,7 & 17 enable pin.
I've saved the config, reset the ports... and still I have no response from the motors, no high frequency buzzing.... nothing at all.
However, there is something going on ... because when I get out of turbocnc and the program closes out, the X motor jumps by a step.
I wonder what this indicates ? I've also tried reversing the step and dir pins as well ( X = 3,2 &14 ) and so on. I'm running this one axis on it's own 12vdc pwr supply with a current resistor to bring the current down to the req's.

My fear is that I've been in the IT field so long that the problem here is probably so blatantly obvious that I'm overanalyzing it and overseeing the configuration issue which is most likely right under my nose.

thanks,
-art

[ger21]

My fear is that I've been in the IT field so long that the problem here is probably so blatantly obvious that I'm overanalyzing it and overseeing the configuration issue which is most likely right under my nose.

thanks,
-art

I'm pretty sure your right. When you set the enable pins, did youactually enable each axis as well, or just set the pin? They are both on the same screen. Go back and check each axis to make sure. Is your X step 3 and dir 2, or do you have these switched? Steps are 3,5,7, and Dir are 2,4,6.